[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S6657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 254--RECOGNIZING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND 
 CELEBRATING THE HERITAGE AND CULTURE OF LATINOS IN THE UNITED STATES 
     AND THE IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LATINOS TO THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, Mr. Coons, 
Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Franken, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Heinrich, 
Mr. Heller, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Markey, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson, 
Mr. Peters, Mr. Reed, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Udall, 
Mr. Warner, and Ms. Warren) submitted the following resolution; which 
was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 254

       Whereas the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage 
     Month from September 15, 2015, through October 15, 2015;
       Whereas the United States Census Bureau estimates the 
     Hispanic population in the United States at more than 
     55,000,000 people, making Hispanic Americans 17.4 percent of 
     the population of the United States and the largest racial or 
     ethnic minority group in the United States;
       Whereas there were 1,000,000 or more Latino residents in 
     Puerto Rico and each of the following 8 States in 2014: 
     Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, 
     New York, and Texas;
       Whereas Latinos grew the United States population by more 
     than 1,150,000 people between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014, 
     accounting for nearly \1/2\ of all population growth during 
     this period;
       Whereas the Latino population in the United States is 
     projected to grow to 105,550,000 by 2050, at which point the 
     Latino population will comprise more than 25 percent of the 
     total population of the United States;
       Whereas the Latino population in the United States is 
     currently the third largest worldwide, exceeding the 
     population in every Latin American and Caribbean country 
     except for Mexico and Brazil;
       Whereas there were 12,200,000 Latino family households in 
     the United States and more than 17,900,000 Latino children 
     under the age of 18 in 2014, representing approximately \1/3\ 
     of the total Latino population in the United States;
       Whereas more than 1 in 4 public school students in the 
     United States is Latino, and the share of Latino students is 
     expected to rise to nearly 30 percent in the next decade;
       Whereas 19 percent of all college students between the ages 
     of 18 and 24 years old are Latino, making Latinos the largest 
     racial or ethnic minority group on college campuses in the 
     United States, including both 2-year community colleges and 
     4-year colleges and universities;
       Whereas a record 11,200,000 Latinos voted in the 2012 
     Presidential election, representing a record 8.4 percent of 
     the electorate in the United States;
       Whereas an estimated 28,500,000 Latinos will be eligible to 
     vote in the 2016 Presidential election, and the number of 
     eligible Latino voters is expected to rise to 40,000,000 by 
     2030, accounting for 40 percent of the growth in the eligible 
     electorate in the United States over the next 15 years;
       Whereas more than 2,000 Latino citizens currently turn 18 
     and become eligible to vote every day, and an estimated 
     1,000,000 Latino citizens will turn 18 and become eligible to 
     vote every year by 2024;
       Whereas the annual purchasing power of Hispanic Americans 
     was an estimated $1,300,000,000,000 in 2014, larger than the 
     economy of all but 15 countries in the world;
       Whereas there are more than 3,200,000 Hispanic-owned firms 
     in the United States, supporting millions of employees 
     nationwide and contributing more than $468,000,000,000 in 
     revenue to the economy of the United States;
       Whereas Hispanic-owned businesses represent the fastest 
     growing segment of small businesses in the United States, 
     with Latino entrepreneurs starting businesses at more than 
     twice the national rate;
       Whereas, as of August 2015, more than 26,000,000 Latino 
     workers represented 16.6 percent of the total civilian labor 
     force in the United States, and the Latino share of the labor 
     force is expected to grow to 19.1 percent by 2022, with the 
     Latino population accounting for more than 40 percent of the 
     increase in employment in the United States over the next 5 
     years;
       Whereas Latinos have the highest labor force participation 
     rate of any racial or ethnic group at 65.6 percent, compared 
     to 62.6 percent overall;
       Whereas there were 270,000 Latino elementary and middle 
     school teachers, 75,000 Latino chief executives of 
     businesses, 63,000 Latino lawyers, and 64,000 Latino 
     physicians and surgeons contributing to the United States 
     through their professions in 2014;
       Whereas Hispanic Americans serve in all branches of the 
     United States Armed Forces and have bravely fought in every 
     war in the history of the United States;
       Whereas, as of July 31, 2015, more than 164,000 Hispanic 
     active duty service members served with distinction in the 
     United States Armed Forces;
       Whereas, as of August 31, 2015, approximately 284,000 
     Latinos have served in overseas contingency operations since 
     September 11, 2001, including more than 8,500 Latinos 
     currently serving in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan;
       Whereas, as of September 2015, at least 675 United States 
     Armed Forces fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan were 
     Hispanic;
       Whereas an estimated 200,000 Latinos were mobilized for 
     World War I and approximately 500,000 Latinos served during 
     World War II;
       Whereas more than 80,000 Latinos served in the Vietnam War, 
     representing 5.5 percent of individuals who made the ultimate 
     sacrifice for the United States in the conflict, even though 
     Latinos comprised only 4.5 percent of the population of the 
     United States at the time;
       Whereas approximately 148,000 Hispanic soldiers served in 
     the Korean War, including Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry 
     Regiment known as the ``Borinqueneers'', the only active-duty 
     segregated Latino military unit in the history of the United 
     States;
       Whereas, as of September 2015, there are an estimated 
     1,500,000 living Latino veterans of the United States Armed 
     Forces;
       Whereas 61 Hispanic Americans have received the 
     Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in 
     action against an enemy force that can be bestowed on an 
     individual serving in the United States Armed Forces;
       Whereas Hispanic Americans are dedicated public servants, 
     holding posts at the highest levels of government, including 
     1 seat on the Supreme Court of the United States, 3 seats in 
     the Senate, 34 seats in the House of Representatives, and 3 
     seats in the Cabinet; and
       Whereas Hispanic Americans harbor a deep commitment to 
     family and community, an enduring work ethic, and a 
     perseverance to succeed and contribute to society: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 
     from September 15, 2015, through October 15, 2015;
       (2) esteems the integral role of Latinos and the manifold 
     heritage of Latinos in the economy, culture, and identity of 
     the United States; and
       (3) urges the people of the United States to observe 
     Hispanic Heritage Month with appropriate programs and 
     activities that celebrate the contributions of Latinos to 
     life in the United States.

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